CHAPTER 240: A NEW LIFE

Zane lay back on his bed, still staring at the glowing words hovering in the air. His pulse hadn’t slowed since the first notification appeared.

And then, with a thought, more lines of text shimmered into view.

[Status Screen]

Name: Zane Caelum

Age: 17

Level: 1

Exp: 0 / 50

Strength: 12

Intelligence: 8

Speed/Agility: 9

Defense: 5

Mental Fortitude: 2

Rank: Null

Abilities: None

Artifacts: None

Shop: Locked (Unlocks at Level 10)

Quests: None

Zane blinked. "...What the hell is this?" He jabbed a finger at the floating words, half expecting them to vanish. They didn’t.

"My defense is five? Five?! No wonder I’m so weak. And what even is mental fortitude? Is that just calling me crazy?"

The screen didn’t answer.

He huffed and rubbed his face. "Okay, okay. Calm down. Think ’disappear.’"

To his shock, the screen dissolved instantly. His eyes widened. "Wait... it worked? Then—show!"

The screen appeared again.

"Disappear!"

Gone.

"Show!"

Back again.

A grin spread across Zane’s face for the first time in years. "Heh... I can control it. I can really control it..."

For the next hour, he tested everything—summoning the screen, dismissing it, focusing on his stats until he was sure he could call it up at will. It obeyed him like it was a part of his mind.

Then, without warning, a sharp ding sounded.

[Quest Available!]

Feed your shadow.

Description: Your shadow has become sentient and will be your companion. Feed it and discover its true potential.

Reward: +60 EXP

Zane froze, staring at the words. Slowly, his eyes dropped to the floor. His shadow was stretched beneath him, rippling faintly like liquid.

"...Feed my shadow? That’s—what the hell does that even mean?" He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. But the excitement bubbling in his chest drowned out the fear.

He stood up from his bed, fists clenched.

"I guess this is my life now." His voice was steady, confident. For the first time in years, he felt like he had a future.

A grin tugged at his lips.

"Finally... I can get powers of my own. I can enter the academy. And this time—" his eyes burned with determination— "I’ll become the strongest there is."